Heavy snow and difficult travel expected again, heaviest snow in southern Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

We may need to keep our shovels, snowblowers and polar fleece handy this winter across Minnesota. Several ocean and atmospheric factors seem to be in place for a colder and snowier winter across the northern United States. That could mean multiple subzero polar vortex outbreaks this winter.

 about the combination of factors that favor a colder, snowier winter. 

Record warm water in the North Pacific, a developing La Niña in the tropical Pacific and extensive Siberian snow cover in October all tend to favor colder, snowier winters in Minnesota and the northern United States.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s official winter outlook

 dropped Thursday and concurs that a colder and potentially snowier winter is more likely than not for the northern United States.

I wrote last month about record warm ocean temperatures in the northern Pacific Ocean. The last time we observed water this warm was the winter of 2013 and 2014. 

That winter was the ninth coldest on record in Minnesota. The Twin Cities had 70 inches of snow and 53 nights of subzero temperatures! 

Here’s a clip from the Minnesota State Climate Office about that brutal winter.

Our current weather patterns offer no guarantee this winter will be as bad as the 2013-14 winter. But signs are pointing toward a rigorous winter ahead.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

La Niña and ocean temperatures in the North Pacific favor a colder, snowier winter for Minnesota ahead.

Meteorologist Paul Huttner joins Clay Masters to discuss drought conditions throughout the state and possible showers.

Weather Chat for Thursday, Oct. 16.

Twin Cities National Weather Service office

A person with a red face walking in the snow

Courtesy of Marius Anderson | London Road Films

NOAA

NOAA via Climate Prediction Center

Twin Cities NWS Office

North Pacific Ocean temperature anomalies on September 9

Polar vortex winter ahead? Patterns favor colder, snowier Minnesota winter

Go Deeper.

Like this?